Apparatus for tire production



v July 20, 1943. H. n. STEVENS 2,324,985

APPARATUS FOR TIRE PRODUCTION Filed July 27, 1940 9 Sheets-Sheet l 57 492 J? r 4 25' 4 Q 4 I} A A 22 A A INVENT R 20w 5%mcefldfaww BY 8577x5ATTORNEYS July 20,1943.

.H. D. STEVENS APPARATUS FOR TIRE PRODUCTION Filed July 27, 1940 9Sheets-Sheet 2 1 F llllllllllll /m i E w July 20, 1943. s'rgvaug2,324,985

APPARATUS FOR TIRE PRODUCTION Filed. July 27, 1940 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 a /0//d I r -ir 4: 10

INVENTOR 970mm. (rial/aw ATTORNEYS y 0, 1943. H. n. STEVENS AE'PAHATUFDR TIRE PRODUQTIQN 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 27, 1940 TORNEYS July20, 1943. s-rrgvz s 2,324,985

APPARATUS FOR TIRE PRODUCTION Filed July 2'7, 1940 9 Sheets-Sheet 5INVENTOR 5% uwfldewxw BY ZQ ATTORNEYS Jufi 20, 1943. ETEVENS 2,324,985

APPARATUS FOR TIRE PRODUCTION Filed July '27, 1940 9 Sheets-Sheet (aATTORNE f July 20, 1943. H, D. STEVENS 2,3249% APPARATUS FOR TIREPRODUCTION Filed July 2'7 1940 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR 565/0 fldfewmBY 6 Y ja l ATTORNEYS July 20,1943. D. STEVENS APPARATUS FOR TIREPRODUCTION Filed July 27, 1940 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 x k a? INVENTOR flaw cYZava BY 6 A ORNEYS H. D. STEVENS APPARATUS FOR TIRE PRODUCTION FiledJu1 27,' 1940 ,9 Sheets-Sheet 9 u lIL Z I r.

INVENTOR %/wgcf&ewlw

v 3 A TORN E Q determinate Patented July 20, 1943 2,324,985 APPARATUSFOR TIRE PRODUCTION Horace D. Stevens,

Firestone Tire Akron, Ohio, assignor to The 80 Rubber Company, Akron,

Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application July 27, 1940, Serial No.347,891 1': cuttin (Cl. 154-10) This invention relates to apparatus forthe production of pneumatic vehicle tires, and more especially itrelates to improved tire building'apparatus of the type wherein aplurality of rotatable tire building forms are moved, in progression,into operative juxtaposition to a succession of stock-supply stationswhere tire building material is supplied to the forms, the materialbeing shaped and pressed to the forms between said stations.

Briefly stated, the invention comprises a turntable that is rotated upona vertical axis continuously and at uniform speed, Mounted upon theturntable, at equally spaced points adjacent the periphery thereof, aretire building machines, each of which is substantially a'fcomplete tirebuilding unit including a collapsibledrum'fand means for driving thesame, bead-setting mechanism, ply-folding mechanism, and ply-stitchingand pressing mechanism, but not including stocksupply units. The latter,which'supply the various kinds of tire building stock for theentire'series of tire building'machines are positioned at points aboutthe turntable where they supply stock to the successive tire buildingmachines as the latter move into alignment with said units, radially ofthe turntable, during each traverse of their orbit. The stock-supplyunits are movable in an arcuate course, concentric with the turntable,for a limited distance, to the end that there will be no relativemovement between a tire building machine during the interval that stockis being removed from the supply unit and wound onto the drum of thetire building machine. Operators are required for the stock-supply unitsto replenish the stock as it is withdrawn therefrom, and operators onthe turntable are required for attaching the stock to the drums andsetting the tire building machines in operation to perform the variousoperations on the stock, and including an operator for removing thefinished tires from the drums and preparing the latter for another cycleof operation. Each operator on the turntable performs but one operation,and walks to the succeeding tire building machine as soon as thisoperation is finished.

The chief objects of the invention are to increase the production ofpneumatic tire casings; to reduce the number of operators required tomaintain a determinate daily production of tires; to reduce the cost ofmanufacture of tires; and to increase the efllciency of the operators byrequiring each to perform but a simple, easily learned operation. Theinvention further aims to provide in an improved manner for the movingof the stock-supply units in unison with the turntable as successivetire building drums move into alignment with said stock-supply units,and for returning said supply units to point of starting after they havebeen moved a determinate distance; and, in general, toprovide improvedapparatus for most efllclently accomplishing the objects set forth.Other objects will be manifest as the description proceeds.

Of the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the turntable of the apparatus, a partthereof being broken away to reveal the-underlying mechanism;

Figure 2 is a section on the line-2 2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic plan view of the apparatus showing thelocation of the tire building drums on the turntable, and the relativepositions of the stock-supply units about the turntable; v

Figure -i.-is a fragmentary plan view 'of the apparatus at the region ofthe stock-supply units that furnish'the first and second fabric plies tothe tire building machines, showing mechanism for moving the-supplyunits with the turntable and subsequently returning them to point of vanism for moving the said supply units and the stock-supply unitstarting;

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5--5 of Fig- 'ure 4;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary plan view of the apparatusat the region of thestock-supply units that furnish the third and fourth fabric plies to thetire building machines, and also furnish the tread ply and breakerstrips, and showing mechwith the turntable and subsequently returningthem to point of starting;

Figure 'l is a view similar to Figure 4 and Figure 6 at the region ofthe supply unit that fur nishes tread slabs to the tire buildingmachines, before the supply unit has been engaged by the mechanism thatmoves it with the turntable;

Figure 8 is an enlarged section on the line 8-4 of Figure 7 showing amovable cam structure and means for moving the same, and a latch memberin operative engagement with said cam;

Figure 9 is a side elevation of the structures shown in Figure 8 asviewed from the left there- Figure 10 is a side elevation of astock-supply rack such as is used to store rubberized fabric for thefirst, second, third. and fourth fabric piles of a tire;

Figure 11 is a plan view of the rack shown in Figure 10;

Figure 12' is a fragmentary rear elevation of the structure shown inFigure 10;

Figure 13 is aside elevation of a stock-supply rack that furnishes thetread ply and two chafer strips to the tire building drums;

Figure li is a fragmentary front elevation of the structure shown in Fiure 13;

Figure 15 is a side elevation or a stock-supply unit that furnishestread-slabs to the tire' building drums;

Figure 16 is a plan view thereof; and t Figure 17 is a fragmentary frontelevation thereof, on a larger scale, as viewed from the line H--ll ofFigure 16..

Referring now to the drawings, especially Figures 1 and 2' thereof,ther'e is shown a pit 29- s over. which the turntable, designatedjas awhole by the numeral 2|, is located. Formedin the pit 29- areparallei'piers 22, 22, and supported by the latter and spanning.- thespace therebetweenf'at collapsible forms or drums thereof. The saiddrums are designated by the numerals 46, and the relative positions ofsaid drums on the turntable 2! is shown best in Figure 3. Said figureshows ten drums 46 symmetrically positioned about the perimeter of theturntable, which number has been found to be most satisfactory for rapidand economical' production. It will be understood,

. however,"'that' a greater or lesser number of tire buildingmachines'may be mounted on the tumtableif conditions make'such practicalor desirable;- alh-thQ-bulldihgmachines are operated the top thereof,are two pairs of parallel I beams 23, 23, and 24, 24."The pit 20 ispolygonal in plan but includes a portion 20a that extends locallyoutwardly from one corner "thereof, the

' bracket is a circular-hub 29 of the turntable 2 I said hub beingprovided on its perimeter with by seven operators who ride upon theturntable,

- each operatorbein'g skilled in a single tire building operation,.andperforming said operation upon successive tire building machines as thelatter move into respective sectors of their orbital movement. Theoperators are thereby required to-walk in the opposite direction to thedirection of rotation of the turntable each time after completing anoperation.

Grouped about the turntable 2i are stock-supply units thatfurnish theconstituent plies of stock required for the building of pneumatic tirecasings, exclusive of the bead rings thereof. Fig- .ure 3 shows the.relative locations of the various stock-supply units, said units beingconventiongear teeth 29. Secured to, the :top. of. hub 29 is acircumferential series of radially extending beams 30, 99 that overhangthe hub and extend beyond the walls of the pit 29; The beams 39 carrythe platform or floor of the turntable 2|, which platform is made up ofa multiplicity of metal plates 9| that are substantially trapezoidal incontour. For supporting that portion of the turntable that extendsoutwardly of the hub 28, an endless rail 32 is mounted upon the underside of the beams 29, concentrically of the axis of the turntable andradially outwardly of the limits of the pit 29, said rail resting uponan annular series of casters '23 journaled in suitable supportingbrackets about the pit. The arrangement is such .as to enable theturntable to rotate about its axis, and to support'a heavy. load nearits periphery.

For rotating the turntable 2|, the gear 29 on the hub thereof is meshedwith a pinion 36 that is mounted upon the upper end of a shaft 31, the

latter being iournaled near its upper end in a bearing bracket 99 thatis supported upon the beams 29. The shaft 31 is coupled, at its lowerend, to the drive shaft 39 of a reduction gear device 40, the latterbeing driven by an electric motor 4| through the agency of an interposedvariable speed device 42. The motor 4| is provided with a magnetic brake43 for quick stopping, it required. Access to the pit 29 for servicingthe motor 4| and variable speed device 42 is had through the portion 20aof the pit that extends locally beyond the area of the turntable 2i andis concealed by a cover 44.

Mounted uponthe turntable 2|, near the perimeter thereof, are aplurality of tire building machines. As previously stated, each tirebuilding machine is substantially a complete unit and comprises arotatable collapsible form or drum 48 and means for driving the same,ply-folding mechanism, I bead-setting mechanism, and plystitching andpressing mechanism, said mechanisms being mechanically and automaticallyoperated under the control of an attending operator. The tire buildingmachines per s are not a part of the present invention, and for thisreason need not be shown in detail herein, it being sufficient merely tolocate the positions of the all? illustrated. As previously stated, thestocksupply units are movable in an arcuate course for limited distanceswith the turntable, and in the (Figure 3) the normal positions of theunits are shown in full lines, their limits of movement with theturntable being shown in broken lines. The stock-supply unit thatfurnishes the first, or #1 fabric body ply of a tire is designated as awhole by the numeral 48. In like manner numeral 49 designates the supplyunit that furnishes the #2 fabric body ply of a tire, 50 designates thesupply unit that furnishes the #3 fabric body ply of a tire, and iidesignates the supply unit that furnishes the #4 fabric body ply of atire. The supply unit that furnishes the fabric tread ply and two chaferstrips comprises a stationary rack 52 and a smaller, movable rack 53that cooperates therewith. The unit that supplies the combination treadand sidewall slabs to the building machines is designated 54. The units48 and 49 are mounted upon an arcuate section of trackway 55, and theunits 59, 5|, 53, and 54 are mounted upon a longer arcuate section oftrackway 56, both track sections being concentric with the turntable 2|.

In Figure 3 also is indicated the various sectors of the orbit of thetire building machines and the relation of said sectors to thestock-supply units, said sectors being designated A to H, inclusive. Thestock-supply units 48 and 49 are located in sector A and it is in thissector that the initial tire building operations are performed. Eachtire building machine moving, in the direction of the arrow in Figure 3,into sector A already has its drum 4B in expanded cond'pion andcemented, and tire beads are in place on itsbead setting rings' As eachtire building drum '48 moves into radial alignment with the stock-supplyunit 48, the latter is engaged by the turntable 2i and moved along itstrackway55 toward supply unit 49. Operator #1, who is stationed atsector A, attaches the leading end of the fabric strip 48 to the drum46, effects a single revolution of the drum to wrap one ply of thefabric around the drum, and severs the ply from the supply strip. Thesupply unit 48 moves with the turntable almost to the position of supplyunit 49 as shown in full lines in Figure 3, and in so doing moves thesupply unit 49 ahead of it. The supply unit 48 is disengaged from theturntable before it fully reaches the inoperative position of supplyunit 46, and both units are returned immediately to normal inoperativeposition. By this time the drum 46 under discussion has reached radialalignment with supply unit 49, and the turntable automatically engagessaid supply unit and moves it along its trackway 55 to the positionshown in broken lines in Figure 3 before releasing it so that it may bereturned to point of starting. During the interval that supply unit 46is moving-with the turntable, operator #1 attaches the leading end ofthe fabric strip in unit 49 to the tire structure on drum 46, effects asingle revolutionof the latter to draw one ply (the second tire ply) ofthe fabric about the drum, and then severs the ply from the supplystrip. Operator #1 then actuates automatically operatinginstrumentalities of the tire building machine that stitch the fabricplies on the drum down over the shoulders at opposite ends of thelatter. mount the tire beads on the respective shoulders of the drum,and then turn the.margins of the fabric plies up around said beads. Thesaid automatic operations occur during the time that the drum is movingthrough sector B. After actuating said automatic instrumentalities,operator #1 walks back to the suc-' ceeding drum 46 which is justentering sector A, and repeats the operations aforementioned. The saidautomatic operations are completed immediately prior to the entrance ofthe drum into sector C.

As the drum enters sector C, the turntable successively engagesstock-supply units 60 and II in exactly the same manner as previouslydescribed with relation to supply units 46 and 49. Operator #2 isstationed in sector C, and performs the manual operations necessary forwithdrawing the third and fourth fabric plies from the supply units 66and ii, respectively, and mounting them upon the drum. Operator #2 thenwalks back to the succeeding drum to perform the same operationsthereon. The drum 46 with four piles of fabric thereon next movesthrough a relatively short sector D where no operations are performed.

As the drum enters sector E it moves into alignment with thestock-supply unit a, and the latter is engaged by the turntable andmoved with it along the trackway 56 from the position shown infull linesin Figure 3 to the position shown in broken lines therein, At sector Eoperator #3 attaches the leading ends of chafer strips and tread ply tothe drum, and causes rotation of the latter to draw said strips onto thedrum from their stationary supply unit 52, the supply unit 53 servingprimarily to guide said strips and to relieve tension therein assubsequently will be explained. As the drum leaves sector E the stockunit 53 returns to point of starting and operator #3 actuates-automaticinstrumentalities on the tire building machine that turn down the outermargins of the chafer strips and overhead fabric plies and fold themabout the tire beads, which operations are completed in sector F beforethe drum reaches the stock-supply unit 54. When the drum reaches radialalignment with supply unit 54, the turntable 2i engages the latter andmoves it along trackway 56 from the position shown in full lines inFigure 3 to the position shown in broken lines therein. when the unitreaches said broken line position it is automatically released from theturntable and returned to point of starting. The stock unit 64 carriestwo tread and sidewall slabs disposed side by side, and means isprovided whereby the turntable II engages the unit to move itforwardly-as successive drums 46 move into radial alignment withalternate tread slabs on the unit, as subsequently will be more fullyexplained. Operators #4 and #5 are stationed at sector. F, and while atread slab of supply unit 64 is in radial alignment with the drum, theoperators attach the adjacent end of the tread slab to the tire strucureon the drum and effect one revolution of: the latter to draw the treadslab thereabout. Previously, however, one of said operators hasswabbedthe tire structure with a volatile-solvent to effect improved adhesionof the tread slab.

After the tread slab is on the drum, one of the operators splices theend thereof, and as the drum passes out of sector '1 the operatoractuates automatically operating .mechanism of the tire building machinethat rolls down the tread. Said tread rolling operation continues as thedrum passes through sector G, the tread roiling mechanism automaticallyreturning to inoperative position as the drum enters sector H.

Operators #6 and #7 are stationed at sector H, and as the drum movesinto this sector one of them manually stitches down the tread splice,thus completing the tire building operation. The operator, thencollapses the buildingdrum 46, removes the finished tire therefrom andplaces the tire upon a conveniently adjacent conveyor that carries itaway from subsequent vulcanization. The other operator then mounts tirebeads on the .bead setting rings of the tire building machine,afterwhich he expands the drum to its normal annular shape, and cementsthe periphery thereof. The drum is then ready to pass from. sector 'H tosector A where the operations described are repeated.

Referring now to, Figures 10 to 12, it will be seen that thestock-supply unit 46 that supplies the first ply of fabric to the tirebuilding drums 46 comprises a carriage 66 provided with wheels 6!, 6|that run upon the rails 66, and an upright open frame structure 62mounted upon said carriage. The frame 62, comprisesan integral tray 63that projects from the front thereof and overhangs the turntable ii, theouter end of the tray thus being adjacent the orbit of tire buildingdrums 46 carried by the turntable. Tray 63 is provided with adjustablelateral guides 64, 64 for a strip of tire building material 65 thatpasses over the tray as it is drawn onto a drum 46, there being a guideroller 66 at the rear of the tray. under which roller the strip 65passes. The fabric strip 65 enters the supply unit from the rear thereofand in its course therethrough it passes in succession over a drivenfeed roller 61, past a fixedly positioned guide roller 68, under afloating roller 66, over a driven feed roller 10, under a floatingroller 1i, over a fixedly positioned guide roller 12, thence to theguide roller 66 aforementioned. The feed roller 61 is driven by means ofa motor 13 and reduction gear device 14 that are mounted on top of. theframework 62, said reduction gear device being connected to feed roller61 by a driving chain 15. A friction device or brake 16 is operativelyassociated with the reduction gear device to prevent overrun when powerto the motor 13 is disconnected. The driven feed roller 10 is driven bymeans of a small motor 11 that has a worm and gear driving connectiontherewith. The floating roller 1!, which rests in a loop or festoon of-lengths of rubberized tirebuilding fabric are placed for splicing tothe trailing end of the length of fabric already within the supply unit.Mounted upon one margin of the-splice-board I4 is anelectric switch 80that is in the circuit of the motor 13. Another switch 01, Figure 10, inthe-circuit of the motor 13 and in series with the switch 06 is mountedupon the rear of spliceboard 84. centrally thereof, and has anoperatinglever 40 that extends through a suitable slot in thesplice-board so as to be engaged by a fabric strip that may overlie iton said spliceboard 04. The arrangement is such that the weightof thefabric will effect the closing of switch 01, with the result thatsubsequent closing of switch will effect driving of the motor II. whenthe trailing end of strip" moves of! the opcrating lever of switch 01,as shown in Figure 12, switch I] automatically opens and stops the driveof motor II. The operation of motor 11 is controlled by two switches inseries of which switch Si is a mercury switch that is mounted upon atiltable arm 00, the'latter being engageable with the floating roller 1|at the lower limit of the lat-'- ters traverse. The other switchcontrolling motor 11 is a me cury switch 02 that is mounted upon atiltable arm 03, the latter being engageable with the floating roller iiat the lower end 'of the. traverse of the latter.

Operation of the supply unit is as follows: Fabric 00 is intermittentlyfed into the unit from the rear thereof by manual operation of theswitch 00 which starts the motor I3. the stock arranging itself in adeep festoon between rollers 01 and 10, which arrangement enables thearm 03 to assume a position in which its switch 82 is closed. There isalso a festocn of stock between rollers 1.0 and I2 as shown, from whichfestoon the stock is intermittently withdrawn as it passes to thebuilding drum 40. when the latter festoon is full, the floating rollerII is at the bottom of its traverse and engages and tilts the arm 00 sothat the switch 0i thereon is open. As stock is withdrawn from the unit,the shortening of the last mentioned i'estoon lifts the floating rollerII and thereby tilts arm 00 to close switch 0i, with the result that ifthe switch 02 also is closed the motor 11 will come into operation todrive roller and thus feed fabric into the said festoon to replace thefabric withdrawn therefrom. Motor 11 stops running as soon as roller IIengages arm 00 and opens switch 9i. If for any reason the supply offabric in the unit has not been replenished, the festoon thereof. inwhich the floating roller 09 is located gradually will shorten andeventually will engage the roller 00, as shown, and lift the same, thustilting arm 03 so as to open switch". Under these conditions motor 11 isidle and cannot feed more fabric into. the forward festoon until therear festoon has been replenished.

The stock supply units 40, 00. and ii are substantially identical withsupply unit 40 just described. and furnish the second, third, and fourthpiles of fabric to the building drums 46. As is usual practice, the biasangle of the cords of successive plies is reversed, and the width of thethird and fourth plies is somewhat greater than the width of the firsttwo plies.

The various stock-supply units are moved in arcuate courses of limitedlength, concentrically of the axis of turntable 2i, by the turntableitself, and to this end dogs or latches 95, as are carried by theturntable, at the periphery thereof and in radial alignment with eachtire building drum 46, for engagement with suitable lugs pro- Jectingfrom the stock-supply units. As is most clearly shown in Figures 8 and9, each latch 05 is pivotally mounted in a bracket 86 that is attachedto the under side of turntable 2i, the inner end of each latch beingtraversed by a pivot pin 91. A tongue or'lug 98 projecting from theinner end of the latch is engageable with an abutment 99 on bracket 96for holding the latch normally in horizontal position. The lower marginof the latch 95 is formed locally with a. downwardly projecting elementI00 that is engageable with means for elevating the free end of thelatch, as shown in full lines in Figure 9, to disengage said lug from astock-supply unit. One such latch-lifting means consists of a roller IOIJournaled in a bracket I02 that is mounted upon the floor, beneath theturntable 2i and in the orbit of the latch elements I00, as shown inFigure 5. Said lifting rollers IOI are determinately positioned withrelation to certain supply units as presently will be explained.

Referring now to Figures 4 and 5, the carriage of supply unit 48 isshown with a laterally projecting lug I04 that extends into the orbit ofthe latches 05 so as to be engaged by successive latches for moving thesupply unit with the turntable. Figure 4 also shows the carriage I08 oithe stock-supply unit 49, said carriage I06 being provided with alaterally projecting lug I01 for engagement with the latches .5.Engagement of a latch 95 with lug I04 will result in the moving ofcarriage 60. and stock rack thereon, from the position shown in fulllines in Figure 4 to the position indicated by the broken lines 6011therein, at which position a roller |0| lifts the latch 95 out ofengagement with lug I04. The carriage 60 then requires to be returned topoint of starting and for this purpose a one-way fluid pressure operatedcylinder I0! is provided. The latter is swivelled at its rear end to afloor bracket H0 between the rails of trackway 55, the cylinder having apiston rod III extending from its front end, the outer end of the pistonrod being ivotally connected to the carriage 00 on the under sidethereof. The cylinder I09 is so arranged that movement of the carriage50 from its full line position to its broken line position 60a withdrawsthe piston rod I II from the cylinder I09. Pressure fluid is supplied tothe cylinder I09 at the front end thereof, through the agency of supplypipe 'I IT, for forcing the piston rod back into the cylinder, torestore the carriage 60 to the normal, full line position shown. Controlmeans for the pipe III whereby the cylinder I09 is charged indeterminate time relation to the disengagement of latch from the lug I04presently will be described.

It will be observed in Figure 4 that the'broken line position ofcarriage 60a partly overlaps the normal, full line position of thecarriage I06 of supply unit 40. The result of this arrangement is thatthe carriage 60 in moving with the turn-table 2I engages carriage I andmoves it along the trackway before it. When the latch 90 disengages fromlug I04 and cylinder I00 retracts carriage 00 to normal position, it isrequired that carriage I00 also return to normal position and to thisend a one-way fluid pressure operated cylinder H2 is provided. Thelatter is swiveled at its rear end to a floor bracket I I2;between therails of trackway 50, the cylinder having a piston rod H4 extending fromits front end, the outer end of'the piston rod being pivotally connectedto the carriage I00 on the under side thereof. The cylinder H2 is soarranged that movement of the carriage I00 in a clockwise directionunder the impetus of carriage 00 forces the piston rod II4 into thecylinder H2. Pressure fluid is supplied to the cylinder 2 at the rearend thereof, through the agency of a supply pipe I ii, for forcing thepiston rod H4putwardl! oi the cylinder, to restore the carriage I00-t othe normal full line position shown, immediately after latch 05 isdisengaged from lug I04 mam riage 60 is returned to normal position.Latch 95 is disengaged from lug I04 before carriage 00 has been moved tothe normal inoperative position of carriage I06, and both carriages arereturned quickly and reach normal position before latch 95 engages lugI01 of carriage I06. When latch 95 engages lug I01 the carriage I06ismoved along trackway 55, in the manner. previously described withrelation to carriage 00, the carriage I00 reaching the position showninbroken lines at I061: before the latch 951s disengaged from lug I01 by aroller IOI as previously described. Immediately thereafter the cylinderH2 again is charged to restore the carriage I06 toits normal full lineposition shown. The time-required for each carriage 60 and I08 to travelfrom its inoperative full line position to im alternative broken lineposition is sufllclent for operator #1 to withdraw a ply of fabric fromthe storage rack on each carriage and apply said plies to the drum 48 insuperposed convolutions, as previously explained.

The charging'and discharging of, the fluidpressure cylinders I 09, H2 indeterminate time relation to the engagement and disengagement of theturntable latch 95 with the carriage lugs I04, I01 is effectedautomatically, and to this end a plurality of brackets H8, H0 areattached to the under side of turntable 2I, at the periphery thereof,each bracket H8 being positioned on the turntable somewhat in advance of'a latch 90. As is best shown in Figure -9, each bracket projectssomewhat downwardly from the turntable and has its lower end providedwith a pair of downwardly projecting fingers or studs H9, I20, whichstuds are in alignment radially of the turntable. The said studs areutilized for operating the pilot valves of a pair of control valves I2I,I22. the valve I2I controlling the operation of cylinder I09 and thevalve I22 controlling the operation of cylinder I I2.

ferentially of the apparatus, below the turntable 2 I and supplies fluidto other valves subsequently to be described. Movement of the pistons ofvalves I2 I I22, to effect the admission of pressure fluid to thecylinders I09, H2, and its discharge therefrom is controlled by a seriesof bleeder valves or pilot valves, which valves are mounted in the orbitof studs H0 or I20 so as to be operated thereby. Positioned close tovalve I2I arepilot valves I28; I29 of which valve i2! controls valveI2I-*in a manner to effect the discharge of cylinder Inland valve I29controls valve I22 in a manner to discharge cylinder I22. Valves I 20,I20 are arranged to be operated concurrently by the studs I20, H0,respectively. Positioned near valve I22 are pilot valves I09, I3I ofwhich valve I20 controls valve I 22 in a manner to effect the chargingof cylinder H2 and valve III controls valve I2I in a manner to chargecylinder I09. Valves I20, III are arranged to be operated concurrentlyby the studs I20, H9, respectively. Mounted near valve I 22 in positionto be operated shortly after pilot valve I3I is a pilot valve I32 thatcontrols the operation of valve I22 to effect the discharge of cylinderI I2. Positioned well beyond valve I22 is a pilot valve I24 thatcontrols valve I22 to eiIect the charging of cylinder H2.

A cycle of operation of the stock supply units of sector A of theapparatus is as follows: First the valve operating studs H0, I20 operatepilot valves I29, I20 to exhaust cylinders H2, I09, and immediatelythereafter latch 05 engages lug I04 of carriage 00 and moves the lattertowards its The valves I2I, I22 are standard articles of commerce andare'known as two-way, balanced. piston type valves. For this reason adetail showing of the valves is not believed to be necessary herein.Supply pipe II! of cylinder I09 connects with the outlet port of valveI2I. and supply pipe H5 of cylinder H2 connects with the outlet port ofvalve I22. Fluid pressure is conducted to the valves I2I, I22 throughsupply pipes I23, I24, respectively, which pipes connect with a singlesupply pipe I25, the latter connecting with a trunk supply pipe I20 thatextends circumbroken line position00a, during a part of which movementit pushes the carriage I 09 before it. During this interval operator #1withdraws the first tire-ply from the supply rack on carriage 00 andmounts it on drum 48. As carriage reaches position 60a, the latch 96engages a roller IOI and is lifted thereby out of engagement with lugI04. Immediately thereafter studs H9, I20 operate pilot valves I3I, I30and thereby operate valves I2I, I22 to charge cylinders I00 and H2, withthe result that both carriages, 80 and I00, are restored to theirinoperative, full line positions as shown in' Figure 4. Almostimmediately thereafter stud H9 operates pilot valve In to effect thedischarge of cylinder I I2, and substantially concurrently therewithlatch 05 engages lug I01, and thereby'moves the carriage I00 toward itsalternative position shown at I00a. As soon as the carriage I00 reachessaid alternative position, latch 05 engages a roller IM and is liftedthereby out of engagement with lug I01 of said carriage, thus releasingthe latter. Next,

stud H9 operates pilot valve H4 to effect the charging of cylinder I I2,and the latter moves the carriage I06 back to its normal inoperativeposition. During the interval that the carriage I00 moves with theturntable, the operator #1 has withdrawn a ply of fabric from thestock-supply rack thereon, and mounted said ply on the drum 46, insuperposed relation to the first ply thereon. After applying the secondfabric ply to the drum 48, the operator sets in action the automaticallyoperating instrumentalities that stitch the two fabric plies down overthe shoulders of the drum, mount the tire beads thereon, and turn themargins of the fabric plies up around the tire beads, which operationscontinue as the drum passes through sector B. This completes the cycleof operations that occur in sector A, which operations are repeated assuccessive drums 48 enter said sector.

As previously stated, stock-supply units 50 and 6 to the alternativepositions shown in. broken lines I31a, I38a, respectively, in saidfigure. Rollers II are properly positioned beneath the turntable 2| todisengage the latches 65 from the carriage lugs I33, I40 at the properplaces. In all other respects the supply units 50 and 5| are identicalwith the supply units 46 and 49 previously described, and operate andfunction in the same manner. Thus, fluid pressure cylinders I43, I44,respectively, are provided for restorin the carriages I31, I33 to normalposition after their release from the turntable 2 I control valves I45,I46 are provided for operating said cylinders, and a plurality of pilotvalves are provided for operating the said control valves in proper timerelation to the engagement and disengagement of latches 35 with lugsI30, I40. The studs II9, I25 on brackets II8 operate said pilot valvesin exactly the same manner and sequence as in the construction shown inFigure 4. Operator #2 in sector C withdraws a ply of stock from eachsupply unit 50, II and applies said plies in superposed. relation uponthe plies on a drum 46 during the intervals that the carriages I31, I33move with the turntable. This completes the cycle of operations thatoccur in sector C, which operations are repeated as successive drums 46enter said sector. Upon leaving sector C, each drum passes quicklythrough sector D, where no work is performed upon it, and then enterssector E to receive a relatively narrow tread ply that is laid along thecircumferential centerline of the structure on the drum, and chaferstrips laid along the respective lateral margins thereof.

The stock-supply unit of sector E comprises a stationary supply rack 52and a smaller, movable supply rack 53, both of which are shown in detailin Figures 13 and 14. The stationary supply rack consists of an openframework that comprises three upright posts each designated I43, eachof which posts carries two, transverse, horizontal spindles I44, I45.Two of the spindles I44 carry supply reels I46 of continuous chaferstrip material I41 that is interwound with a suitable liner, and thethird spindle carries a supply reel I43 of continuous interwound with asuitable liner. I45 carry respective liner rewind reels I50 upon whichsaid liners are wound as the various stockplies are withdrawn from theirsupply reels, as shown. Although Figure 13 shows but three stock reelsand three liner rewind reels, there are, in fact, a duplicate reserveset of reels (not shown) mounted upon the spindles I45, I45 on the farside of the posts I43. The reserve reels make it possible quickly toattach the leading ends of the reserve ply strips to the trailing endsof the strips threaded through the apparatus as the supply reels of thelatter are exhausted. Thus the replenishing of the stock rack iseffected without loss of time and without stopping of the turntable.

Adjacent the top of the rack 52, on the side thereof nearest theturntable 2i, are mounted brackets I52, I52 that support a non-rotatablehorizontal shaft I53, and journaled on the latter are three driven feedrollers I54, I54. Each of the latter has a sprocket I55 attached to itshub, about which sprocket is trained a sprocket chain I56. The latterare also trained about respective sprockets, such as the sprocket I51 ona reduction gear device I58, the latter being driven by an electricmotor I59 mounted on top of the rack 52. The tread ply strip I49 passesover the middle feed roller I54, and the respective chafer strips I41pass over the laterally positioned feed rollers I54. Between said feedrollers and the supply reels of said strips are suitably disposed guiderollers I60, I60 that support and divert the strips to the proper feedrollers. Below the shaft I53, the brackets I52 carry a support plate I6Ithat carries a plurality of guide rollers I62, I62 that are arranged inpairs, and are horizontally disposed with their axes at right angles tothe axis of feed rollers I54. Each pair of rollers I62 is positionedcentrally below a feed roller I54, the arrangement being such that thestrips I41, I49 may pass downwardly from said feed rollers and passbetween the respective pairs of rollers I62, being turned therebythrough an angle of 90 degrees, as shown, in which position they pass tothe movable stock-supply rack 53 that is positioned therebelow.

The stock-supply rack 53 is mounted upon a movable carriage I65 thatrides upon the trackway 66 between the stock rack 52 and the turntable2|. The rack 53 comprises an open framework upon the top of which iscarried a plurality of guide rollers I66 arranged in pairs in the samemanner as guide rollers I62 and parallel to the latter, the stock stripsI41 and I40 passing between the roller pairs I66 as they enter the stockrack 53. At the top of the rack 53, on the side thereof nearest theturntable, is an overhanging tray I61, the outer end thereof beingdisposed adjacent the tire building drums as as the latter move in theirorbit past the stock tread ply material I49 also The spindles.

rack 53. The top of tray I51 is provided with the usual lateral guidesfor the ply strips I41, I49 that pass over said tray in moving to abuilding drum 46, and at the inner end of said tray are guide rollers,such as the guide roller I80, for diverting the respective strips I41,I49 onto the tray, said rollers I 58 being disposed on a commonhorizontal axis arranged at right angles to the axes of the rollers I66. Between the rollers I66, I68 the respective stock strips I41, I49are disposed in festoons, and supported in each festoon is a floatingroller I69 that is positioned between angular end-guides, such as theguide I10, said roller being iournaled upon a wire frame I1I that isengaged by said guides. Suspended from the wire frame I is a flexibleleather strap I12. and suspended from the lower end of the latter is aweight I13 that also is guided in the endguldes I10. The arrangement issuch that the roller I59 will rise or fall accordingly as the festoon ofstrip material lengthens or shortens, such movement of the roller alsomoving the weight I13 up or down.

A switch arm I15 pivoted at I16 on the rack 53 has an end thereof thatprojects into the path of movement of the weight I13. so as to be tilteddownward, as shown, when the said weight rests thereon. A counterweightI11 on the other end of the switch arm tilts the arm in the otherdirection when the weight I13 is lifted. Mounted upon the switch arm Iis a mercury switch I18 that controls the drive of the motor I59, saidswitch closing the motor circuit to drive the motor when the weight I13is lifted from the switch arm, and opening the motor circuit to stop themotor drive when the weight I13 engages the switch arm and tilts itdownwardly. No brake is provided for the motor I59, and the latter willcoast somewhat after the switch arm-I13 is tilted to open open theswitch I18, but because of the flexibility of the strap I12, whichallows it to bow as shown in Figure 13, the roller I69 is free to moverelatively of the weight I13 and thus it always will rest at the bottomof the festoon of strip material and maintain it in taut condition. Theelectrical connections from the switches I18 to the motors I59 passthrough a flexible electric cable I19 that connects the rack 53 to therack 52'. It will be understood that as the strips of material I41, I49are drawn onto a drum 46, they shorten the festoons of material,

and the driving of the motors I59 replenishes the festoons with materialdrawn from the supply reels I46, I48. The arrangement of the guiderollers I62, I65 is such that the portions of the ply-strips I41, I49between said rollers are disposed at such an angle that movement of thestock-supply unit 53 is substantially transverse to the plane thereof,thus facilitating such movement of theunit.

The relative extent of the movement of the supply unit 53 with theturntable 2| is shown in Figure 3. Means for restoring the said supplyunit to its normal inoperative position is shown in Figure 6, saidmeans-comprising a single-acting fluid pressure cylinder I82 that ispivotally mounted at its rear end at I83 upon a suitable floor bracket.Extending from the forward end of the cylinder I82 is a piston rod I84,the outer end of which is pivotally connected to the under side of thecarriage I55. The side of the carriage nearest the turntable 2i isprovided with an outstanding lug I85 that projects into the orbit of thelatches 95 of said turntable, whereby said latches may engage said lugto move the carriage, and stock rack thereon, in clockwise directionwith said turntable to the position shown in broken lines and designatedI550. The cylinder I82 is so arranged that such movement of the carriageI65 withdraws the piston rod I84 from said cylinder, as shown in thebroken line position I650. of the carriage. Fluid pressure for forcingthe piston rod I84 into the cylinder I82, to restore the carriage to itsinoperative full line position,

is conducted to the cylinder by supply pipe I86 that has connection withthe forward end of the cylinder. Controlling the supply of pressurefluid to the pipe I86 is a piston-type \Lalve I85 that is identical withthe piston-type valves previously described, said valve having an inletpipe I88 communicating with the trunk supply pipe I26. Operation ofvalve I81 is effected by means of pilot valves in the mannerhereinbefore described. Thus pilot valve I99 positioned at theinoperative full line position of the carriage I65 controls theoperation of valve I81 to exhaust the cylinder I82, and pilot valv I9Ipositioned at the alternative broken line position I650. or the carriagecontrols the operation of valve I81 to charge the cylinder I82. Bothvalves I90, I9I are disposed in the orbit of the studs II9 of thebrackets IIB carried by the turntable 2|, so as to be operated therebThere is a roller Ii'II disposed adjacent the pilot valve I9I in theorbit of the projecting elements I08 of the latches 95,

for lifting the latter out of engagement with the lug I85 of carriageI65.

The operation of the stock-supply unit 53 is as follows. As a drum 46with four fabric plies thereon enters sector E, a latch 95 engages lugI85 of carriage I65 and moves the latter along with the turntable.Substantially concurrently the stud N9 of bracket II8 operates pilotvalve I to discharge cylinder I82 so that the movement of the carriageis unimpeded. As the carriage I85, and supply rack thereon move with theturntable in radial alignment with a drum 46 thereon, operator #3attaches the leading ends of chafer strips I49 and tread ply strip I49to the tire structure on the drum, imparts one revolution to the drum towind said strips there about. and then severs the strips on the drumfrom the supply thereof. The operator then actuates the automaticinstrumentalities of the tire building machine that turn down themarginal portions .of the chafer strips and overhead fabric plies, andfold them about the tire beads, which operations are completed in sectorF. The movement of the carriage I65 with the turntable continues until aroller IOI lifts latch 95 out of engagement with lug I85 of saidcarriage. Immediately thereafter stud H9 of bracket II8 engages andoperates pilot valve I9I, with the result that cylinder I82 is charged,the piston rod I84 thereof is retracted, and the carriag I65 is returnedto normal inoperative position.

After the chafer strips I41 have been turned under as described, eachdrum 45 comes into alignment with the stock-supply unit 54 in sector F,which supply unit carries tread slabs for tire construction, and isshown in detail in Figures 15 to 1'1. The supply unit 54 comprises acarriage I94 that is carried upon the trackway 56 and is movabletherealong between a normal inoperative position, shown in full lines inFigure -'1, and an alternative position shown in broken lines at IBM: insaid figure. Mounted upon the carriage I94 is an open frame ,I95 andupon the top of the latter is a work-support for two tread slabs I96,I96. The work-support is arranged to position the tread slabs inside-by-side relation with their longitudinal centerlines disposedradially of the axis of the turntable 2I. For this reason the positionsof the tread slabs converge toward the front of the supplv unit. Thearrangement provides more readily for keeping the stock unit suppliedwith tread slabs for the drums 45, the latter withdrawing tread slabsalternatelyfrom one side of the work-support and then from the otherside, in a manner presently to be explained. Thus an operator is enabledto replenish one side of the unit as the tread slab is being withdrawnfrom the other side thereof.

The work support of the frame I95 comprises a. relatively wide tray I98that extends from the top thereof toward the turntable H and is disposedin overhanging relation to the drums 46 of the latter as said drums comeinto alignment with the unit. At the rear end of the tray I98 are a pairof anti-friction rollers I99, I99 over which the respective tread slabsare drawn as they move toward the front end of the tray, the axes ofsaid rollers being at an angle to each other, but normal to-thecenterlines of the tread slabs I96. The front end of the tray I98 issimilarly provided with a pair of rollers, such as the roller 290, whichrollers are angularly disposed in the same manner as the roller I99, andare parallel to the latter. Th front end of the tray also carries a pairof bridge-like supports 2M,

29I that span the course of the respective tread slabs I00, parallel tothe respective rollers 200, each of saidjsupports '2ll carrying a pairof ad- .iustable brackets 202, 202 upon which respective guide-discs 202are iournaled. The discs 209 of each pair of discs are disposed at anangle to each other. and are adapted to engage a tread slab I90 at therespective shoulders thereof each side of its medial region. The discs202 thus serve to restrain the tread slabs I90 from lateral move-. ment'as they are moved longitudinally toward the forward or delivery end ofthe tray I96. Rearwardly of the guide rollers I 29 the frame I95 carriesa top plate 204 upon which the trailing end portions of the tread slabsI96 may rest, said piate'being downwardly s oped from said guiderollers.Said top plate carries two sets of adjustable guide-rails20S. 205arranged in pairs and adapted to engage the lateral margins of therespective tread slabs I96 to guide them in a radial direction withrelation to the turntable 2I. As previously stated, the successive drums46 withdraw tread slabs I90 from the stock-supply unit 54 first irom oneside thereof and then from the other side, such operations beingeffected while a tread slab is in radial alignment with the drum and thecarriage I94 is being moved along its trackway 56 by the turntable 2I.In order that successive drums 40 will be aligned with alternate treadslab of the supp y unit 84, the carriage I 94 of the latter at its frontmargin is provided'with two projecting lugs 208, 209, which lugs extendinto the orbit of the latches 95 of the turntable 2| and are engageableby the latter to move the said carriage from the full line positionshown in Figure '1 to the position shown in broken lines in said figure.The positions of the lugs 208', 209 correspond to the positions of thetwo tread slabs on the supply unit, and means is provided wherebysuccessive latches 95 of the turntable engage alternate lugs 208, 209,and including means whereby the latches 95 are lifted out of engagementwith said lugs at different points in their orbit according to which ofthe lugs it is engaged with, as presently will be described. Whicheverlug, 200 or 209, a latch 95 engages, it will be disengaged from said lugas the carriage I94 reaches the broken line position I94a. In order toreturn the carriage I94 from the position I94a to the normal inoperativeposition shown in full lines. a single-acting fluid pressure operatedcylinder 2I0 is provided, said cylinder being disposed below thecarriage I94 and swiveled at its middle upon a floor bracket 2 that islocated just beyond the broken line position I94a of the carriage. Thecylinder 2i0 has a piston rod 2I2 projecting from the front end thereof,the outer end of the piston rod being pivotally connected to thecarriage I94 on its under side. The cylinder is charged from the rearend thereof. to project the piston rod 2I2,

through the agency of a supply pipe 2I3. and the admission of fluid tosaid pipe, and its discharge therefrom is controlled by a two-way,balanced, piston type valve 2I4 of the kind hereinbefore mentioned.Pressure fluid is supplied to the valve 2I4 through a. pipe 2N thatconnects with the trunk supply pipe I26. Operation of valve 2I4 iseffected by lm'e'ans of a plurality of bleeder or pilot valves of whichpilot valve H8 is fixedly positioned in front of the normal inoperativeposition of the carriage I94 and in the orbit of studs H9 of thebrackets II8, pilot valve 2II is movable and has an operative positionin front of the broken line position I94a of the carriage in the orbitof the studs I29 of brackets III, and pilot valve 2" is ilx lypositioned somewhat beyond the broken lin position of the carriage inthe orbit of the studs I20 of the brackets III. Pilot valve 2I6 controlsthe operation of valve 2I4 to eiiect the discharge of cylinder 2I9, andpilot valves 2II and 2Il control the operation of valve 2 to effect thecharging of cylinder 2". Because the valve 2II is movable, it ispossible to move the same out of the orbits of the studs I20 on bracketsIII, thus delaying the charging of. the cylinder .2" until pilot valve2I9 is operated, as presently will be explained.

The means for moving the pilot valve 2II out ,of the orbits of the studson brackets I I9 is combined with means for disengaging a latch from lug200 on carriage I94, said means being shown in detail in Figures 8 and9. As shown in said figures. the pilot valve 2" is carried at the outerend of an angular arm 22I, upon an angular seat 222 that is secured tosaid arm and which rests upon a metal slide-plate 223 that is setintqigthe flooring. At its inner end the arm :21 is ad i'ustably securedto a slide 224 that is slidably mouhted upon a base plate 225 betweenlateral slideways 228, 226. The slide 224 is connected by a coupling 221to the outer end of the piston rod 220 of a double-acting fluid pressurecylinder 229, also mounted on the base plate 225. The cylinder 229 has afluid inlet-and-outlet pipe 210 comm-unicating with the front end of itschamber, and has a fluid inlet-and-outlet pipe 23I communicating withthe rear end of its chamber.

Mounted upon the top of the slide 224 is a horizontai cam plate 222, theends of which are downwardly curved as shown in Figure 8. The cam plate222 is disposed transversely of the axis of the cylinder 229, which axisis disposed radially of the axis of the turntable 2I and in radialalignment with the lug 200 of carriage I94 when said carriage is in thebroken line position I94a of Figure 7. The arrangement is such that whenthe rear end of cylinder 229 is charged. the piston rod 229 thereof isin projected position, the pilot valve 2I'I at the end of arm 22| isdisposed in the orbit of the studs I20 of the brackets I I8, and the camplate 232 is in the Orbit 01 the downward extensions I00 of the latches95, which arrangement is shown in Figure 9 where a stud I20 and latch 95are shown in operative engagement with said pilot valve and said latch.When the front end of the cylinder 229 is charged, the slide 224 ismoved rearwardly to move the pilot valve 2II out of the orbits of thestuds II9, I20 and to move the cam plate 222 out of the orbit of theextensions I00 of latches 96, the rearward or inoperative positions ofvalve 2II and cam plate 232 being indicated in broken lines in Figure 9.A roller IOI positioned beneath the turntable sub.- stantially in radialalignment with lug 209 of carriage I 94, when the latter is in thebroken line position'lfla, is provided for lifting a latch 95 out ofengagement with said lug, it being understood that at such times the camplate 232 is in retractedrinoperative position.

As previously stated, successive latches 95 enga e the lugs 200, 209 ofcarriage I94 in alternation, the arrangement being such that alternatelatches 95 approachingalignment with lugs 208 are elevated for ashortdistance of their orbit so as to pass over the lug 208, the latchsubsequently being lowered so as to engage lu 209 of the carriage. Foreilecting the lifting of alternate latches 95 as described, adouble-acting fluid pressure cylinder 2", Figure 7, is provided,

which cylinder is mounted on the door below turntable 21 andsubstantially in radial alignment withsaid lug 2-08 ill-'theinoperative,- full line positionlof the carriage. The cylinder- 235' isidentical with cylinder 2-29 previously described, and like: the latter,is adapted to efl'ect radial movement of a slide upon which a cam plate2361s mounted. The camplate-236 is identical-with cam plate 232, ismovable into and out of the orbit of the extensions I 01 latches 85 forlifting alternate latches over lugv 208. Fluid pressure is conducted tothe front end oi'cyllnder 235. by a: fluid inlet-and-outlet pipe 231 andis conducted to the rear end of saidcylinder by a fluid inlet-and-outletpipe 238.-

The charging: and discharging of cylinders'228', 2351s controlled by afour-WayTBaIanced, piston type valve 240' locatedbetween them and belowthe turntable 2|. Pipe 230 of cylinder 228*and pipe 23-1 of cylinder 285extend to thedischarge ports of valve 240, and exteriorly 01' the latterpipe 23I- of cylinder 229 connects with said pipe 231 and pipe 238 ofcylinder 235 connects with: pipe 230-0: cylinder 229. The arrangementissuch that when the front end of either cylinder-228', 238' is charged,the rear endofthe-other cylinder'concurrently is charged. Pressure fluidfor operating said cylinders :is supplied. to the valve 240 through asupply-pipe 241' that hasconnection with the trunk supply'pipe I26;Operation of the valve 240i is effectedby twoapilot valves='2'42, 243'that are disposed beneath the tumtable il at different. distances fromthe-axis'oithelatter. Pilot valve 242 eifectsoperation-ot valve'240 ina, manner that results in the charging of the front end of cylinder 229and the charging-rot the rear end of cylinder 235. Pilot valve 243controls valve 240 to effect the charging of the front end of cylinder235 and thecharging of the rear end of cylinder 229. Operation of pilotvalves 2'42;

243 is enacted by means of cperatlng'flngers or' 1 studs 244 intotheorbits ofwhich saidpilot valves extend, said studs beingsecured to' theunder side of turntable 2'I--and projecting downwardly therefrom.Successive studs 244 are spaced dill-- terent distances from theaxis'oi' the turntable,

the arrangement being, such that they actuate pilot valve 242-, 253iii-alternation. There are same number of studs 244 as therearetire-building drums on the turntable, the studs being so positionedrelatively of the tire building machines as to operate the pilot valves242, 248 at the proper tim'es with respect to the angular position of.the turntable.

The operation of the apparatus in sector F isas follows, reference beingdirected especlallyto Figure '7 wherein it will be seen that in thela'stphase of the'previous cycle oi opera'tiomthe stud I20 on bracket II8engaged pilot valve 2I-I to operate valve 2I4 and thus to chargecylinder M0, the latter returning the carriage I to the full lineposition shown. With the-various elements in the positions shown, thefirst phase of operation will. occur when. a stud 244 operates pilotvalve 242 and thus operates valve 240 to charge the front end. ofcylinder 229 and'the rear end of cylinder 235, thus reversing saidcylinders from the condition shownand causing retractionof pilot valve 2I1 and: cam plate 232, and causing the camv plate 236 to be: projectedforwardly into the orbit of the extensions I00 of latches-85. Continuedmovement of the turntable brings a latch into engagement wlththe camplate 236; said latch thereby being lifted, andis'in elevatedposition asit passes'lug 208 of carriage I94, thereby avoiding-engagement with saidlug. At this same time a stud II9' on a bracket H8 engages and operatespilot valve='2 I'-6, thereby operatingvalve 2I4 to eife'ct the dischargeof cylinder 2I0. Continued rotation of: the turntable then moves thepreviously elevatedlatch'S'S-into engagement with lug 209 of carriage I94;- the latter, and supply rack'l95 thereon thenmoving along with theturntable 21, a drum 46 on the turntable being. aligned with one of thetread slabs I88 carried by said stock rack. An operator then attachessaid tread slab to the tire structure on drum 46, and rotates the latterto draw the tread slab from its supply rack onto the drum. opera- 8 tionis completed by the time the carriage I94 has been moved 'tothe brokenline position I94a. Upon reaching the latter position, .the latch 85engagessroller MI and i's'liited thereby to release lug 208, andimmediately thereafter stud I on bracket I I8 engagespilot valve 2I'8 tooperate valve 2- to charge cylinder 2I-0 and thus-to restore carriageI-Mtoits original full lineposition. As the-drum 46 with tread thereonmoves out-oi sectorFEan operator-splices the ends oi the tread slabthereon and sets into action the automatic instrumentali'tie's:that-stitch down" the tread to the tire structure on the drum, thestitching operation: continuing through sector G.. This completes onecycleof operations upon a drum passing through s'e'ctor'F.

As thesucceeding'drum-entersrsector F, a stud 2l4engages' and operatespilot valve 2, thus operating valve 240' i'n amanner that charges therear-end of cylind'er 220 and the-Iront'endof cylinder 235, withthetresult. that pilot valve 2I'I and cam plate 236 is retracted, whichpositions of said members are shownin Figure 7. Then the latch 85engages lug 208' of carriage I 9!. thus bringing drum 46 into alignmentwith the other tread slab of the supply rack I85. Carriage I94 moveswith the turntable 2I until latch 85 engages c'am plate "land is liftedthereby out of engagement'with said'lug, thecarria'ge then being in thebroken line position I94a. Immediately thereafter pilot-valve 2I1'isengaged by stud I20 of a bracket H8 to:operate valve 2 in a manner thatcharges cylinder 2I0 and thus restores carrla'ge I94 to the full lineinoperative position; shown, this operation being eiIected' while the 50latch 95 still is engaged by'cam plate 232 so that lug 209 may clear thelatch as the carriage I94 is returned. Thiscompletes the-alternativecycle of operation.

As previously stated, the building of a tire is completed insectorG-with the-stitching down of the tread slab ofthe tire. In sectorH the drum is collapsed, the finished tire is removed thereirom',.beadrings are mounted upon the bead setting lnstrumentalitie's of the tirebuilding machine, andthe drum ismade ready for the building of anothertire thereon prior'to its entry again into sector A. Experience hasproved that satisfactory results are obtained with the apparatus shownwhen: the tum'tablemakes one revolution in about five minutes.

It is believed that the operation of the apparatus asa whole willbe'understood from the foregoing description-oi'i the various partsthereof. The illustration and. description of the specific tire buildingmachines'employed has beenomitted. for clearness of illustration, andbecause said'machines are not apart of the present invention. Thevarious automatically operating instrumentalities of the tire buildingmachines are operated electrically and by fiuid pressure, the tumtable2| carrying a trunk supply line 246 of fluid pressure, which supply linereaches the turntable 2| through the tubular quill 21 at the axisthereof. Branch pipes 241 connected to said trunk'line extend throughapertures 248 in the turntable to the respective tire building machines.Electrical energy for the tire building machines also may reach thelatter through suitable conductor wires (not shown) that extend throughsaid quill.

The invention makes it possible to maintain a large production ofpneumatic. tire casings with relatively few operators, which operatorsperform relatively few and simple operations in which they become highlyskilled. The invention results in the reducing of the cost of tirecasings, and achieves the other objects set out in the foregoingstatement of objects.

Modification may be resorted to without departing fromthe spirit of theinvention or the scope thereof as defined by the append-ed claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a tirebuilding machine, a movable carrier supporting said machine andconveying it in an orbital course, a stock-supply unit disposed besidethe can'ier, said unit comprising a stationary stock rack and a movablestock rack, means for moving the movable stock rack with the carrier fora determinate distance while stock therefrom is withdrawn by the tirebuilding machine, and means for returning said stock rack to its initialposition, the stationary stool; rack being positioned midway between thelimits of movement of the movable rack and rearwardly there-' of andadapted to feed stock to the latter in all positions thereof.

2. A combination as defined in claim 1 in which the stock in the movablerack is disposed in festoons, including drive means on the stationaryrack for feeding material into said festoons intermittently as thelatter are shortened by the withdrawal of materialtherefrom.

3. Apparatus for delivering tire stock to a tire building machine movingin an orbital course,

said apparatus comprising a stationary stock rack for reels of tirebuilding material, a movable stock rack having movement with the tirebuilding machine for a determinate distance and re tractive movement topoint of starting, said stationary rack being .disposed midway betweenthe limits of movement of the movable rack and rear wardly thereof,driye means on the stationary rack for feeding stock therefrom to themovable rack, and means on said racks for so turning the stock as itpasses therebetween that the movement of the racks relatively of eachother flexes the stock passing therebetween at an angle to its ownplane.

4. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of aplurality of tire building machines, a movable carrier supporting thesame and conveying them in an orbital course, a movable stock-supplyunit beside the carrier and comprising dual stock supplies arranged sideby side, latches on the carrier associated with each tire buildingmachine and adapted for engagement with the stock supply unit to movethe same with the carrier while a tire building drum is aligned with oneof the stock supplies, and means for causing successive latches toengage the stock-supply unit at difierent points along its structurewhereby movement of the supply unit occurs as successive drums arealigned with alternate stock supplies of the unit.

5. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of aplurality of tire building machines, a movable carrier supporting thesame and conveying them in an orbital course, a movable stock-supplyunit beside the carrier and comprising dual stock supplies arranged sideby side thereon, latches on the carrier associated with the respectivetire building machines adapted for engagement with the stock-supply unitto move the same with the carrier while a tire building drum is alignedwith one of the stock supplies thereon, means for causing successivelatches to engage the stock-supply unit at different points along itsstructure whereby movement of the supply unit occurs as successive drumsare aligned with alternate stock supplies of the unit, and means fordisengaging successive latches from the stock-supply unit at differentpoints in the travel of the latches so that the stock-supply unit alwaysis disengaged from the carrier at the same point of movement of theunit.

6. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a tirebuilding machine, a movable carrier supporting the same and conveying itin an orbital course, a movable stock supply unit beside the carrier andcomprising dual stock supplies arranged side by side thereon, a latch onthe carrier determinately positioned with relation to the tire buildingmachine, lugs associated with the respective stock supplies projectingfrom the stock-supply unit into the path of said latch, and means formomentarily moving the latch relatively of the carrier and out of itsnormal orbit so that it will avoid engagement with the first lug on thesupply unit, and engage the second lug thereon.

7. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of aplurality of tire building machines, a turntable supporting the same andmoving them inan orbital course, a movable stocksupply unit beside theturntable and comprising duel stock supplies arranged side by sidethereon, latches on the turntable at the perimeter thereof indeterminate position with relation to the respective drums of the tirebuilding machines, lugs associated with the respective stock suppliespro- Jecting from the stock-supply unit into the nori mal orbit of saidlatches, and means for moving alternate latches momentarily out of theplane of their orbit to avoid engagement with the first lug of thestock-supply unit but to engage the second lug thereof? whereby thesupply unit is moved with the turntable as successive drums are alignedwith alternate stock supplies of the supply unit.

8. A combination as defined in claim 7 in which the means for moving thealternate latches out of their'normal orbit is a cam-plate, includingmeans for moving the cam plate into and out of operative relation withthe latches.

9. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of aplurality of tire building machines, a turntable supporting the same andmoving them in an orbital course, a movable stocksupply unit beside theturntable and comprising dual stock supplies arranged side by sidethereon, latches on the turntable at the perimeter thereof indeterminate relation to the respective drums of the tire buildingmachines, lugs associated with the respective stock supplies projectingfrom the,stock supply unit into the normal orbit of said ,latches, meansfor moving alternate latches momentarily out of the normal plane of 0 te Stock-supply unit but to engage the sec 0nd lug thereof, whereby thesupply unit is moved with the turntable as successive drums are alignedwith alternate stock supplies of the supply unit, and means fordisengaging the latches from the lugs at different points in the orbitof the latches according to which lug of the supply unit is engaged by alatch.

10. A combination as defined in claim 9 in which the means fordisengaging the latches from the lugs o! the stock supply unit consistsof a member having a fixed situs in the orbit of the latches fordisengaging a latch from one of the lugs, and a movable member havingalternative positions in one of which it is disposed in the orbit of thelatches to disengage the latch from the other lug.'

11. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of aturntable, a plurality of tire building machines thereon, a movablestocksupply unit beside the turntable and comprising dual stock suppliesarranged side by side thereon, latches on the turntable at the perimeterthereof in determinate relation to the drums of the tire buildingmachines, lugs associated with the respective stock supplies projectingfrom the stock supply unit into the. normal orbit of said latches, acam-plate movable into the orbit of the latches to lift a latchmomentarily out of its normal plane so as to avoid the first lug of thestock-supply unit but to engage the second lug thereon, meansfordisengaging the latches from the. lugs at different points in theorbit of the latches according to which lug of the supply unit isengaged, said disengaging means comprising a cam-plate movable into andout of the orbit of the latches, and control means for concurrentlyoperating said cam-plates to move one of them into the orbit of thelatches while retracting the other therefrom. I

12. A combination as defined in claim 11 in which the control meanscomprises fluid-pressure operated cylinders for operating the respectivecam-plates, valve means common to said cylinders for operating the same,a pair of pilot valves for operating said valve to reverse saidcylinders, and means carried by the turntable for operating said pilotvalves in alternation.

13. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of aturntable, a plurality of tire building drums thereon, a movablestocksupply unit beside the turntable and comprising dual stock suppliesarranged side by side thereon, latches on the turntable, lugs associatedwith the respective stock supplies projecting from the stock-supply unitinto the normal orbit of said latches, means for causing successivelatches to engage alternate lugs of the stock supply unit, to move thelatter with the turntable, means for disengaging the latches from thelugs at different points in the orbit of the latches according to whichlug of the supply unit is engaged by a latch, a fiuid pressure operatedcylinder for returning the supply unit to point of starting after thepropelling latch is disengaged therefrom, and alternative means foroperating said cylinder according to which latch-disengaging means lastfunctioned.

14. A combination as defined in claim 13 in which the alternative meansfor operating the fiuid pressure cylinder comprises a control valve, apair of pilot valves for operating the same, means carried by theturntable for operating said pilot valves, and means for moving one ofsaid pilot valves into and out of the orbit of the pilotvalve-operatingmeans.

15. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of aturntable, a plurality of tire building machines thereon, a movablestock-supply unit beside the turntable and comprising dual stocksupplies arranged side by side thereon, latches on the turntable at theperimeter thereof, lugs associated with the respective stock suppliesprojecting from the stock-supply unit into the normal orbit of saidlatches, means for moving alternate latches momentarily out of thenormal plane of their orbit to avoid engagement with the first lug ofthe stock-supply unit but to engage the second lug thereof, meansdisengaging the latches from the lugs at different points in the orbitof the latches, the means for disengaging latches from the first lug ofthe supply unit comprising a cam plate structure that includes a camplate and means for moving the latter into and out of the orbit of thelatches, a fluid pressure cylinder for returning the supply unit topoint of starting after the propelling latch is disengaged therefrom,and alternative means for operating said cylinder according to whichlatchdisengaging means last function, said means comprising a controlvalve for said cylinder, a pair of spaced apart pilot valves foroperating the same, a stud carried by the turntable and engageable withsaid pilot valves, and a seat for one of said pilot valves connected tothe cam plate structure whereby said pilot valve is moved out of theorbit of said stud when said cam plate is moved out of the orbit of thelatches.

16. In apparatus for tire production, the combination of a tire-buildingmachine, a movable carrier supporting said machine and conveying thesame in an orbital course, a movable stock supply unit disposed besidethe carrier, means on the carrier engageable with said stock-supply unitfor moving the same with the carrier, in alignment with saidtire-building machine thereon, means disengaging the supply unit fromthe carrier after both have moved a determinate distance together, afluid pressure operated cylinder operatively connected to thestock-supply unit for returning the same to point of starting afterdisengagement from the carrier, and means for charging and dischargingthe fluid pressure cylinder in determinate time relation to the movingof the supply unit by the carrier, which means comprises a valve movableto alternative positions, and means on the carrier for moving said valvein alternation to said positions.

17. In apparatus for tire production, the combination ofa tire-buildingmachine, a movable carrier supporting said machine and conveying thesame in an orbital course, a movable stocksupply unit disposed besidethe carrier, means on the carrier engageable with the stock-supply unitfor moving the same with the carrier, in alignment with saidtire-building machine thereon, means disengaging the supply unit fromthe carrier after both have moved a determinate distance together, afluid pressure operated cylinder operatively connected to thestock-supply unit for returning the same to point of starting afterdisengagement from the carrier, and means for charging and dischargingthe fluid pressure cylinder in determinate time relation to the movingof the supply unit by the carrier, in hich means comprises a balancedpiston-type valve, spacedapart pilot valves for operating the same, andmeans carried by the carrier for operating said pilot valves insuccession.

HORACE D. STEVENS.

